HESI Practice Exam

Legal and Legislative Issues (Exa gi gi gi gi


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1. Purpose of Law and Legislation in Nursing: - Protect the patient and the nurs
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-Law and legislation define the scope of acceptable practice, as well as protecting individual rights
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-Being aware of these rights allows the nurse to better protect themselves against liability or loss of lic
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sure
2. Sources of Law and Nursing Practice: - gi gi gi gi gi gi


Laws are expressed in terms of "must" and "shall" and are based on society's interest in pr
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ohibiting or controlling behavior. gi gi gi


-Statutory Law gi


-Common Law gi


3. Statutory Law - gi gi


Federal Statutes: Conditions of Participation for Hospitals in Medicare
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-Have halted payment to hospitals for preventable patient complications
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and injuries Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Law
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-"anti-
dumping law", prohibit the refusal of care for those unable to pay at the
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ED Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
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-Patients with vision and hearing disabilities need to be able to communicate or be educated
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by caregivers Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990
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-Established in 1991, requires any health care organization that received federal funding (A.K.A. Medica
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re or Medicaid) MUST provide education to statt and patients on end of life treatment issues.
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Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
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-Confidentiality of patient information gi gi gi


-Whistleblowing
4. Health insurance portability and accountability act of 1966 (HIPAA): -
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Part 2: Privacy Rules-
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directed at ensuring strong privacy protection for patient without threatening access to care.
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-Applies to health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, health providers
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-Attempts to balance the need for protection of personal health information (PHI) with the need for dis
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closure of that information for patient care
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Firing over HIPAA violation
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5. Whistleblowing Definition: - gi gi


The obligation to denounce is based on the fact that to remain silent is to consent to the act
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ion or threatening situation
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, Legal and Legislative Issues (Exa
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m #3) gi

-A person who informs on a person or organization involved in illicit, illegal, or unsafe activity.
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-In nursing the underlying concept is advocacy and beneficence.
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-Often an ethical dilemma
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-Can be diflcult because corporate culture is set up for self protection.
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, Legal and Legislative Issues (Exa gi gi gi gi


m #3) gi


6. Whistleblower Protection: - gi gi


Protects nurses who speak out about unsafe situations from being fired or subjected to other
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disciplinary actions by their employers
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-Nurses want to be able to speak up for their patients without fear of retaliation
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-Advocated for at the federal level and has passed in some states
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-You are not protected in a whistleblower situation from retaliation by your employer until you blow the
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histle.
-Do not expect those that are engaged in unethical or illegal conduct to welcome your questions or
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concerns about this practice. gi gi gi


-Blowing the whistle means that you report your concern to the national and/
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or state agency responsible for regulation of the organization for which you work or, in the case of cri
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minal activity, to law enforcement agencies as well.
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-Private groups, such as The Joint Commission or the National Committee for Quality Assurance, do not
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give protection. You must report to a state or national regulator.
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-Although it is not required by every regulatory agency, it is a good rule of thumb to put your complain
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n writing. gi


-Document all interactions related to the whistle- gi gi gi gi gi gi


blowing situation and keep copies for your personal file.
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-Keep documentation and interactions objective.
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-Remember that blowing the whistle is a very serious matter. Do not blow the whistle frivolously. Make
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sure you have the facts straight before taking action
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7. An RN suspects that an employer hires nursing students at a high
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er rate of pay and allows them to perform certain procedures tha
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t require the skills of an RN. The nursing students enjoy the autono
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my and extra pay. Before the RN participates in whistle-
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blowing, he or she should: gi gi gi gi


A. file a formal complaint to The Joint Commission to initiate an in
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vestigation and receive protection from retaliation by the employ gi gi gi gi gi gi gi gi


er.
B. collect adequate documentation and, if possible, consult with the
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istate nurs- gi


es association before reporting to the state agency responsible for
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giregulation of the employer. g i gi gi


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